The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) yesterday appeared to be in two minds regarding a reported decision to extend its support to Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa at the upcoming Election, it is learned.

The Examinations Department announced the date for holding the Grade 5 scholarship examination for 2024. Accordingly, it will be held on September 15 (Sunday) at 2,849 examination centres around the country.

In the wake of incessant rains experienced over the past few weeks, health officials have warned of a surge in Dengue cases. Commenting on the situation, Director of the National Dengue Control Unit Dr Sudath Samaraweera said they have scaled up preventive measures in areas which have been identified as high-risk.

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) announced that it will reduce the prices of fuel from midnight today. Under the new pricing, Petrol Octane 92 will see a reduction of Rs. 12, bringing the price down to Rs. 332 per litre.

The Department of Posts has announced that 95% of the postal ballot papers for the upcoming presidential election have been distributed. Senior Deputy Postmaster General Rajitha Ranasinghe noted that the remaining ballot papers, primarily allocated for military bases, will be dispatched tomorrow.

A total of 112 new complaints related to the upcoming Presidential election have been received, bringing the overall number of complaints to 1,592, according to the Election Commission. These complaints were filed between July 31 and August 31.

Some powerful nations including those from the region want a weak government in Sri Lanka, so that they can get what they want, MP Rajitha Senaratne said today.

Price of Litro domestic LP gas will not be increased despite the LP gas price increase in the world market, Litro Gas Chairman Muditha Peiris said. He told the Daily Mirror that LP gas prices in the world market has increased.

According to the Sunday Observer, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has agreed to provide Sri Lanka with $1.9 billion in financial assistance over the next three years.

A delegation of Tamil Opposition Members of Parliament, including MPs Mano Ganesan, V. Radhakrishnan, and Palani Thigambaram, held discussions with India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. The meeting took place as part of their representation of the Samagi Jana Sandhanaya. The discussions are part of ongoing diplomatic engagements amid Doval’s official visit to Colombo.

National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of India Ajit Doval visited Colombo from 29-30 August 2024, for the signing of the Founding Documents of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), a statement from the Indian High Commission said.

India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met SLPP Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa in Colombo today where the duo discussed several areas of mutual concern.

Presidential candidate and former Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), Janaka Ratnayake, pledged that his first priority upon being elected President will be to reduce fuel prices by Rs. 150.

The National People's Power (NPP) has complained to the Elections Commission against Parliamentarian Rajitha Senarathne over a statement made by him.

Inflation in the Colombo district slowed sharply in August, as both food and non-food prices cooled after the government started cutting the tariffs of the utilities and fuel, ameliorating the price pressures through the supply chains.

Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval arrived in Sri Lanka today. He is tipped to meet several Presidential candidates, including President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) candidate Sajith Premadasa.

olombo district Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Jagath Kumara pledged his support to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa at the upcoming Presidential election.

resident Ranil Wickremesinghe's Presidential election manifesto titled "Five Years of Winning the Country with Ranil," was officially launched at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo a short while ago.

UNP General Secretary Range Bandara today denied a news report that he had resigned from his post in the party and is going to cross over. “I don’t know about this rumor. A media institution had published this story. I am not aware of such a news,” he told Daily Mirror.

A future National People's Power (NPP) government will develop the Trincomalee oil tank farm as a joint venture with Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and a foreign investor, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

The first payment towards the implementation of the Hybrid Power Projects on three islands off Jaffna was handed over to Secretary, Minister of Power and Energy Sulakshana Jayawardena and Chairman of Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) Ranjith Sepala by the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha.

A group of European Union (EU) election observers have arrived in Sri Lanka to oversee the upcoming presidential election. The team, together with the EU Ambassador have called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees in Colombo yesterday (Aug. 27).

A Gazette notification has been issued summoning all the members of the Armed Forces for the maintenance of Public Order in specific areas. Under the Public Security Ordinance, the Gazette has been issued by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, with effect from Tuesday, 27 August 2024.

The Supreme Court rejected a petition challenging President Ranil Wickremesinghe's eligibility to run in the Presidential election, which was based on claims of failure to appoint the Acting IGP and judges to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa pledged to take legal action against those who initiated forced burials during the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaker during a rally in Akkaraipattu, Premadasa also pledged that a future Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) government will pay compensation to those who were affected by forced burials.

Former Chairman of the Election Commission, Mahinda Deshapriya said that the difference between genuine and fake opinion polls are difficult to distinguish and therefore voters should be cautious to discern fact from fiction.

The price of ginger has shot up to Rs.3200 in the market that resulted in a declining demand. Traders pointed out that the farmers were selling seed ginger to make a fast buck, but the medicinal ginger or the local ginger was in short supply. Traders pointed out that heavy rains experienced recently had resulted in crop devastation and the resultant shortage.

Former State Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, who pleaded guilty to a corruption case, was sentenced today by the Colombo High Court to a two-year suspended imprisonment. Colombo High Court Judge Nawaratne Marasinghe suspended the two-year imprisonment for ten years, considering the accused's guilty plea. The court also imposed a fine of Rs. 400,000 on the accused.